Does power always corrupt?

Question

In college I interned for a former United States Senator. He was a bit of a kooky, crazy character. He wasn't very pleasant, either. I got to thinking on whether I knew any pleasant person my entire life who had obtained or had been given substantial amount of power - a politician, a high ranking official in a large business, a religious leader, etc. The answer was no. I have never known a single person in my life with substantial power who was also a pleasant, good person.

As such, does power corrupt, absolutely?

I was having lunch today and saw this Senator at the restaurant. This is what inspired the question.

Answer 1

Absolute power does. I know small amounts of power don't always lead to true, real corruption. I don't think anyone (even the relatively powerless) is particularly free from all corruption every day of their lives.



The problem here, it seems, is that very powerful politicians in our country get where they are by being dishonest. If they were honest all of the time, they would have too many people turn against them. Politicians have to be people pleasers, and people pleasers are dishonest.



Look at Mitt Romney. That man will say anything to get in power. Would he take bribes? I don't know. He has no problem being dishonest though.



Perhaps it isn't the power itself so much as the process of getting into power.

Answer 2

It goes with the territory. Politics attract those people who want to run other people's lives -- dominant control-freaks. They give themselves the power to dictate by writing the laws that allows it. If you get some jerk in there who feels that, for example, sky-diving should be banned, then that's what's going to happen... outlawed. Sky-divers are a minority group and therefore would be defenseless to keep what is rightfully theirs -- freedom of choice. It would be stolen by 'the powers that be'. The universal EXCUSE "To save lives" is all they need to push their narrow corruptive minds and declare it illegal by law. Then they continue seeking another target minority group. Perhaps crack down on mountain climbing, fishing from the rocks or eating junk-food. Personally I feel victimised, because it's ruined one of the few things I enjoy in life. That is, I love to ride my bicycle, but cannot stand the feeling of having something strapped around my throat (helmet). Nor do I see any reason why I should be forced to wear a helmet. If they pester me enough, I'll just do what most others do... ditch the bike and help contributing to poluting the atmostphere by simply driving my car instead. Their choice! The risk of getting skin cancer from not protecting ourselves from the sun -- e.g. by wearing a hat, long sleeves, etc -- is hundreds of times greater than the risk of not wearing a helmet. Try getting that through the 'corruptive' narrow-minded skulls of 'the powers that be'. I read some document where it said that the minister who was responsible for that absurd helmet law openly admitted that, quote, "He didn't give a hang about the view of civil libertarians". So much for mutual respect! Perhaps other people feel differently, but to me this is a great example of 'power corruption' and that sort of thing is only going to get worse, if we as a nation don't object. On the other hand, sports like horse-racing and football or rugby would never be banned, no matter how many accidents, serious injuries and deaths occur, because it's a billion-dollar-industry. Oh, and not to forget, those biggest annual sailing competitions held during the storm seasons! If their stupic excuse is always "saving lives", then how's this not hypocrasy and/or corruption? Beats me.

Answer 3

No, not always. Sometimes power does demand someone to take hold of more responsibility. Take for example a class where a student was put in charge of a group project each worth 1/10 th of their grade. but for the one in charge it was worth half of his grade. He's naturally going to be a bit harder than the rest because it matters to him more. So to the rest he may appear corrupt but in truth he just has more to lose. Power is often a fragile thing and those with it recognize it.

But I've met people in power who never let it corrupt and change them. So I'd have to disagree with that idea.

Answer 4

Just because someone isn't pleasant and jovial doesn't mean they are corrupted. It might be that they are weighed with a heavy burden of responsibility and have 'forgotten' how to relax and be in good cheer.



If politics was less of a popularity contest and more based on performance and track-record, things could be different.

Answer 5

Absolutely.

Answer 6

It is a rare person who can wield power and stay to their pure, altruistic values. IF they ever had any, which is doubtful...a certain type of person is attracted to power and they are usually NOT nice people.

Answer 7

If you're bored and have nothing exciting to do then yes lol. But seriously not always it depends what's kind of person you are.

Answer 8

there is power that is invested in you via trust- and then their is the desire to have power over- it is a choice.